Starlux Airlines plans to expand its fleet to 48 aircraft by 2027, marking the completion of its first-phase growth strategy, according to Chief Strategy Officer Simon Liu. The airline’s future fleet will feature a mix of six A321neos, six A330neos, and eight A350-1000s, along with the first of 10 freighters expected for delivery in early 2028. Liu also confirmed that half of these freighters are slated to be in service by 2029.
Having navigated through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Starlux achieved profitability in 2023 and 2024, just a few years after its launch in 2020. Despite facing global supply chain disruptions that have caused some delivery delays, the airline is on track to operate 31 aircraft by the end of this year, including newly delivered A330neos and an A350-1000.
Starlux currently operates three North American routes—Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle—with plans to launch flights to Ontario in June. A fifth North American destination is slated for the first quarter of 2025, and the airline’s first European route is expected to take off in 2026.
A significant portion of Starlux’s North American passengers are connecting travelers, with key Southeast Asian destinations such as Clark in the Philippines serving as crucial stopover points. The airline is also enhancing its connectivity by deploying larger aircraft to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
In the first quarter of 2025, Starlux’s Japan routes led the network, boasting an impressive load factor of over 90%. Southeast Asia routes reached an 85% load factor, while North American routes hovered around 80%. Notably, the Hokkaido route emerged as the top performer, with more Japanese destinations expected to be added this summer.
Looking ahead, Liu emphasized that while partnerships will be key to Starlux’s long-term strategy, the airline is currently focused on scaling up operations. Once the target of 48 aircraft is achieved, Starlux will initiate its second-phase fleet expansion.
